Lewis Hamilton has issued a damning verdict on his personal performances in System 1 proper now, saying “I am undoubtedly not quick anymore.”
The seven-time world champion endured one other tough qualifying session in Qatar on Friday, as he ended up seventh on the grid for the dash race.
This was 5 locations behind his team-mate George Russell, who was 0.399 seconds quicker as he secured a spot on the entrance row alongside pole place man Lando Norris.
After a season the place Hamilton has struggled to get on high of his automobile in qualifying, having crushed Russell simply six occasions versus 22 in all aggressive periods up to now (5-17 excluding sprints), F1’s pole place report holder has prompt that he is probably not nearly as good as he as soon as was.
Requested whether or not the problem was of Hamilton’s personal making, he mentioned: “Who is aware of? I am undoubtedly not quick anymore.”
Hamilton was clear that the relative lack of tempo in comparison with Russell in Qatar was the results of him not performing, relatively than it being any downside together with his automobile.
“Similar as each different qualifying, not that nice,” he mentioned. “I am simply gradual and identical each weekend. So yeah, automobile felt comparatively first rate. No, no points, and not likely rather more to say.”
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15
Photograph by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Pictures
Whereas Hamilton has typically discovered himself higher in relative phrases in race tempo in comparison with qualifying, he says that he’s nonetheless leaving himself with an excessive amount of to do by beginning races up to now again.
“The long term did not really feel too dangerous, however while you’re at all times again the place I’m, it makes it very exhausting to be competing for – effectively nearly unattainable just about – to be competing for wins from there. However that is the dash. I will do what I can tomorrow.”
Requested if the reset for qualifying on Saturday evening would supply him an opportunity to do higher, Hamilton mentioned: “Not notably, no. I imply, the optimistic is that the automobile is quick, and George must be out to shoot for pole tomorrow.”
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